Rail-fastener.



D. D. NORRIS.

RAIL PASTENBR.

APPLIOATION FILED nn. 1e. 1910.

Patented July 19, 191.0.

A l 1 lmzlw i i M :7 4 1 J70 9 LU 7 A n E* 7 ug; 7/ m Fig. 2; Fig. 5

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RAIL-FASTENER.

eeaee'a Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 19?, .1910.

Application filed April 16, 1910. Serial No. 555,764.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL D. Norms, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakdale, in the parish of Calcasieu and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-F asteners, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to improvements in track rail fasteners, and it consists of a cross tie having improved means for rigidly clamping two track rails so that they can not possibly spread or turn.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and practical rail fastening device of this character which will securely hold the rails, and which will require but a single bolt or analogous fastening device to retain the parts in locked position.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective View of my improved rail fastening device, the track rails being in section; Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the device; Figs. 3 and 4 are cross sectional views taken respectively on the lines 3 3 and 4 4 in Y is a perspective view of the wedge-shaped member; and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the rail engaging and clamping members.

Referring more particularly to the drawings 1 denote track rails supported on a cross tie 2 which is preferably made of metal and has in its top transverse grooves or seats 3 to receive the base portions of the track rails. The outer walls of the seats 3 are undercut to form flanges 4 which engage the outer base flanges of the rail and eectively hold the rails down upon the cross tie.

Formed in the top of the intermediate portion of the tie and extending longitudinally thereof, is a groove or recess 5, the side walls of which are undercut as shown at 6, and the ends of which communicate with the transverse grooves or seats 3. The groove 5 is adapted to receive two rail engaging and clamping members 7 in the form of plates having beveled edges to engage the undercut walls 6 of said groove, and having their outer ends shouldered or shaped as shown at 8, to engage the inner base flanges of the track rails to firmly hold the rails in the seats or grooves 3. The inner ends of the slidable members or plates 7 are beveled as shown at 9 for engagement by the angularly aranged, opposite edges of a wedge meinber or plate 10, which latter is inserted in a transverse recess or groove 11 formed in one side of the central portion of the tie and communicating with the groove 5. The walls of the groove or recess 11 are undercut, as shown at 12, to receive beveled portions 13 at the opposite sides of the large end of the wedge plate 10, whereby the latter will be prevented from moving upwardly as it is driven laterally into the tie to spread the slidable wedge plates 7 and drive them into firm clamping engagement with the track rails. To permit of the insertion and removal of the plates 7, the groove 5 is made slightly larger at its central portion where it communicates with the groove 11, as will be understood on reference to Fig. 1.

Any suitable means may be provided for retaining the wedge member or plate 10 in position, but an ordinary bolt 14 is preferably used. This bolt or analogous fastening is passed horizontally through the wedge plate 10 from its large to its small end, and transversely through the portion of the tie 2 opposite the recess or groove 11, suitable openings being provided in said plate and tie, as shown more clearly in Fig. 4. rThe head of the bolt 14 engages the large end of the wedge plate 10 and on its projecting screw threaded end is arranged a tightening nut 15 which when screwed up on the bolt causes it to draw the wedge plate 10 inwardly and thereby tighten the rails. ln order to prevent the nut from working loose, a suitable locking means is provided, the same preferably consisting of a Isplit pin or key 16 passed through a transverse opening in the threaded end of the bolt, as will be understood on reference to Fig. 4.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with. the accompanying drawings, it is thought that the construction, operation and advantages of the invention will be readily understood without a more extended explanation.

Having thus described the invention,what is claimed is:

The combination of a cross tie formed in its top adjacent its ends with transverse rail receiving seats, the outer walls of said seats being undercut to receive the base flanges of the rails, said tie being also formed in its top With a longitudinally extending groove communicating With said seats and having undercut WallsJ said tie being further provided in its top With a transverse grove having undercut Walls and communicating With the intermediate portion of said longitudinal groove, rail clamping plates slidably arranged in the ends of the longitudinal groove and having outer ends shaped to engage the inner base flanges of the track rails,

a Wedge plate slidably arranged in said transverse groove and engaged with the inner ends of said rail clamping plates, a transverse fastening passed through the Wedge plate and the tie, and means for locking said fastening.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiX my signature in the presence of tWo Witnesses. DANIEL D. NORRIS. Witnesses:

COLUMBUS E. STROTHER, V. B. HARGRovn, Jr. 

